Gun barrel cleaning apparatus and method

Abstract

A gun barrel cleaning tool for receiving and enclosing a gun barrel while guiding a cleaning brush back and forth through the enclosed gun barrel. Cleaning fluid is introduced through a suitable passage way into the interior of the apparatus and a cleaning brush may thereafter be passed back and forth through an enclosed gun barrel in order to clean it.

1. A gun barrel cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a barrel holder having a first interior chamber for receiving a gun barrel, said first interior chamber having a first opening on an inner side of said barrel holder; 
 a sleeve shaped and dimensioned to be insertable into said first interior chamber through said first opening, said sleeve further having an interior opening shaped to receive and hold at least a first portion of a gun barrel inserted into said barrel holder through said first opening; 
 a brush guide having inner and outer ends and slideably mounted to said barrel holder so as to be movable toward the inner end of said barrel holder into a closed position after insertion of a gun barrel into said barrel holder, said brush guide having a second interior chamber having an opening on the inner end thereof aligned with the first opening of said first interior chamber of said barrel holder, said brush guide further having an opening in the outer end thereof permitting insertion of a barrel cleaning tool into and through said first and second interior chambers and through a gun barrel disposed in a said sleeve positioned in said first interior chamber; and 
 wherein said brush guide is further hingedly mounted to said barrel holder such that as said brush guide moves away from the closed position to an open position, the brush guide pivots or drops downward with respect to the barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       2. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a fluid reservoir removably attached at an end of said barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       3. A gun barrel cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a barrel holder having a first interior chamber and a cradle portion located behind said first interior chamber, said first interior chamber having an open end which opens into said cradle portion, said cradle portion having respective sides and an open top; 
 a sleeve shaped and dimensioned to be insertable into said first interior chamber through said open end of said chamber, said sleeve having an interior opening therein, said interior opening being adapted to receive and hold a gun barrel; 
 wherein said cradle is shaped such that a gun barrel may be inserted into said cradle, through said open end and then into a said sleeve positioned in said interior chamber; and 
 a brush guide slideably mounted to said barrel holder so as to be moveable either toward or and away from said barrel holder and being shaped and dimensioned to come into a first position wherein said brush guide covers an end portion of a gun barrel resting in said cradle as said brush guide is moved toward said barrel holder; and 
 wherein said brush guide is further hingedly mounted to said barrel holder such that as said brush guide moves away from the closed position to an open position, the brush guide pivots or drops downward with respect to the barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       4. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the sleeve is formed of a plastic of a softness selected so as not to scratch a gun barrel. 
     
     
       5. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a tongue extending from said cradle and having a pin projecting from either side thereof; and 
 wherein said brush guide has first and second horizontally disposed slots which mate with said pins, said slots being shaped and dimensioned to achieve pivotal mounting of said brush guide to said barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       6. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising respective slots formed on either side of said cradle and respective pins positioned on an interior of said brush guide to mate respectively with said slots, said slots being further shaped and dimensioned to enable said brush guide to move toward and away from said barrel holder and to pivot or drop down with respect to said barrel holder when said brush guide is moved away from said barrel holder to a selected position. 
     
     
       7. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the brush guide comprises a bonnet portion at an end thereof which overlaps said gun barrel when said brush guide comes into said first position. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a fluid reservoir removably attached at one end of said barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       9. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the first interior chamber of said barrel holder is cylindrical and wherein said barrel holder has a second interior cylindrical chamber concentric with the first interior chamber and of a diameter larger than the first interior chamber. 
     
     
       10. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the length of the sleeve is selected such that the sleeve extends into said second interior chamber and has an end which extends beyond an end of a gun barrel located therein. 
     
     
       11. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the sleeve is formed of a plastic of a softness selected so as not to scratch a gun barrel. 
     
     
       12. A gun barrel cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a barrel holder having a first interior chamber and a cradle portion located behind said first interior chamber, said first interior chamber having an open end which opens into said cradle portion, said cradle portion having respective sides and an open top; 
 a sleeve shaped and dimensioned to be insertable into said first interior chamber through said open end of said chamber, said sleeve having an interior opening therein., said interior opening being adapted to receive and hold a gun barrel; 
 wherein said cradle is shaped such that a gun barrel may be inserted into said cradle, through said open end and then into a said sleeve positioned in said interior chamber; 
 a brush guide slideably mounted to said barrel holder so as to be moveable either toward or and away from said barrel holder and being shaped and dimensioned to come into a first position wherein said brush guide covers an end portion of a gun barrel resting in said cradle as said brush guide is moved toward said barrel holder; and 
 wherein the first interior chamber of said barrel holder is cylindrical and wherein said barrel holder has a second interior cylindrical chamber concentric with the first interior chamber and of a diameter larger than the first interior chamber. 
 
     
     
       13. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the length of the sleeve is selected such that the sleeve extends into said second interior chamber and has an end which extends beyond an end of a gun barrel located therein. 
     
     
       14. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a fluid reservoir removably attached at an end of said barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       15. A gun barrel cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a barrel holder having a first interior chamber and a cradle portion located behind said first interior chamber, said first interior chamber having an open end which opens into said cradle portion, said cradle portion having respective sides and an open top; 
 a sleeve shaped and dimensioned to be insertable into said first interior chamber through said open end of said chamber, said sleeve having an interior opening therein, said interior opening being adapted to receive and hold a gun barrel; 
 wherein said cradle is shaped such that a gun barrel may be inserted into said cradle, through said open end and then into a said sleeve positioned in said interior chamber; and 
 a brush guide slideably mounted to said barrel holder so as to be moveable either toward or and away from said barrel holder and being shaped and dimensioned to come into a first position wherein said brush guide covers an end portion of a gun barrel resting in said cradle as said brush guide is moved toward said barrel holder; and 
 wherein the brush guide comprises first and second parallel slots shaped to slideably mate with the respective sides of said cradle so as to enable the brush guide to slideably move toward and away from said barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       16. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the first interior chamber of said barrel holder is cylindrical and wherein said barrel holder has a second interior cylindrical chamber concentric with the first interior chamber and of a diameter larger than the first interior chamber. 
     
     
       17. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the length of the sleeve is selected such that the sleeve extends into said second interior chamber and has an end which extends beyond an end of a gun barrel located therein. 
     
     
       18. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the sleeve is formed of a plastic of a softness selected so as not to scratch a gun barrel. 
     
     
       19. A gun barrel cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a barrel holder having a first interior chamber and a cradle portion located behind said first interior chamber, said first interior chamber having an open end which opens into said cradle portion, said cradle portion having respective sides and an open top; 
 a sleeve shaped and dimensioned to be insertable into said first interior chamber through said open end of said chamber, said sleeve having an interior opening therein, said interior opening being adapted to receive and hold a gun barrel; 
 wherein said cradle is shaped such that a gun barrel may be inserted into said cradle, through said open end and then into a said sleeve positioned in said interior chamber; and 
 a brush guide slideably mounted to said barrel holder so as to be moveable either toward or and away from said barrel holder and being shaped and dimensioned to come into a first position wherein said brush guide covers an end portion of a gun barrel resting in said cradle as said brush guide is moved toward said barrel holder; and 
 further comprising respective slots formed on either side of said cradle and respective pins positioned on an interior of said brush guide to mate respectively with said slots, said slots being further shaped and dimensioned to enable said brush guide to move toward and away from said barrel holder and to pivot or drop down with respect to said barrel holder when said brush guide is moved away from said barrel holder to a selected position. 
 
     
     
       20. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first interior chamber of said barrel holder is cylindrical and wherein said barrel holder has a second interior cylindrical chamber concentric with the first interior chamber and of a diameter larger than the first interior chamber. 
     
     
       21. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the length of the sleeve is selected such that the sleeve extends into said second interior chamber and has an end which extends beyond an end of a gun barrel located therein. 
     
     
       22. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the sleeve is formed of a plastic of a softness selected so as not to scratch a gun barrel. 
     
     
       23. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the sleeve is formed of a plastic of a softness selected so as not to scratch a gun barrel. 
     
     
       24. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the length of the sleeve is selected such that the sleeve extends into said second interior chamber and has an end which extends beyond an end of a gun barrel located therein. 
     
     
       25. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the sleeve is formed of a plastic of a softness selected so as not to scratch a gun barrel. 
     
     
       26. A gun barrel cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a barrel holder having a first interior chamber and a cradle portion located behind said interior chamber, said cradle portion having respective sides and an open top; 
 a sleeve shaped and dimensioned to be insertable into said interior chamber through an end of said chamber nearest said cradle, said sleeve being adapted to receive and hold a gun barrel; 
 wherein said cradle is shaped such that a gun barrel may be inserted into said cradle, and then into a said sleeve positioned in said interior chamber; 
 a brush guide having a second interior chamber; and 
 means for attaching said brush guide to said barrel holder and for enabling said brush guide to move either towards said barrel holder or away from said barrel holder; and 
 wherein said attaching and enabling means further enables said brush guide to pivot or drop downwardly with respect to said barrel holder after said brush guide has been moved a selected distance away from said barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       27. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said attaching and enabling means comprises:
 a tongue extending from said cradle and having a pin projecting from either side thereof; and 
 first and second horizontally disposed slots on said brush guide which mate with said pins, said slots being shaped and dimensioned to achieve pivotal mounting of said brush guide to said barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       28. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said attaching and enabling means comprises respective slots formed on either side of said cradle and respective pins positioned on an interior of said brush guide to mate respectively with said slots, said slots being further shaped and dimensioned to enable said brush guide to move toward and away from said barrel holder and to pivot or drop down with respect to said barrel holder when said brush guide is moved a selected distance away from said barrel holder. 
     
     
       29. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 26  further comprising:
 a fluid reservoir removably attached at an end of said barrel holder. 
 
     
     
       30. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the first interior chamber of said barrel holder is cylindrical and wherein said barrel holder has a second interior cylindrical chamber concentric with the first interior chamber and of a diameter larger than the first interior chamber. 
     
     
       31. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the length of the sleeve is selected such that the sleeve extends into said second interior chamber and has an end which extends beyond an end of a gun barrel located therein. 
     
     
       32. A gun barrel cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a barrel holder having a first interior chamber and a cradle portion located behind said interior chamber, said cradle portion having respective sides and an open top; 
 a sleeve shaped and dimensioned to be insertable into said interior chamber through an end of said chamber nearest said cradle, said sleeve being adapted to receive and hold a gun barrel; 
 wherein said cradle is shaped such that a gun barrel may be inserted into said cradle, and then into a said sleeve positioned in said interior chamber; 
 a brush guide having a second interior chamber; and 
 means for attaching said brush guide to said barrel holder and for enabling said brush guide to move either towards said barrel holder or away from said barrel holder; and 
 wherein said attaching and enabling means comprises first and second parallel slots shaped to slideably mate with the respective sides of said cradle. 
 
     
     
       33. The gun barrel cleaning apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the first interior chamber of said barrel holder is cylindrical and wherein said barrel holder has a second interior cylindrical chamber concentric with the first interior chamber and of a diameter larger than the first interior chamber.